Imagine a creature that looks like a cross between a snake and a worm, but is also a lizard. It sounds impossible, but it is actually a reality – this is the unusual appearance of the amphisbaenian lizard. These creatures still remain extremely mysterious to scientists, because they are so secretive that they can go decades without being seen by people. But sometimes such amazing encounters happen. For example, a new species of worm-like lizard was recently discovered in Brazil, and this is a great reason to talk about these amazing creatures.
Contents
- 1 Who are the two-horned reptiles?
- 2 A hybrid of a worm and a snake?
- 3 How are amphisbaenians structured?
- 4 The most secretive animals in the world?
- 5 A new species of two-horned reptile?
Who are the two-horned reptiles?
Amphisbaenians, or two-horned reptiles (Amphisbaenia), are a suborder of scaly reptiles that includes more than 180 species. Their name comes from ancient Greek words meaning “round trip”, which accurately reflects their unique ability to move forward and backward with equal ease. These creatures look so unusual that they can easily be confused with worms or snakes, although they are actually lizards.
Worm-Snake Hybrid
The main feature of the worm is its cylindrical, worm-like body, covered with ring-shaped folds of skin. These rings not only give them a worm-like appearance, but also play an important role in their movement. Worm-like creatures can crawl like snakes, but their main ability is to compress and stretch their torso, which creates the impression of a crawling worm. This technique is especially useful for their underground lifestyle.
How amphisbaenians work
Another amazing feature of diopods is their unusual skull. It's unlike the skull of most other reptiles: they lack some of the bones that lizards typically have, making their heads more massive and adapted for digging. Some species even have heads that are shaped like shovels, irons, or beaks — all to help them make their way underground.
While most amphisbaenians are completely limbless, members of the genus Bipes still retain short front legs, which makes these creatures even more strange. In addition, unlike many snakes and lizards, amphisbaenians have a developed left lung, not a right one, which again distinguishes them from other reptiles.
The World's Most Secretive Animals
Interestingly, the two-tailed ants rarely come to the surface, preferring to spend their lives underground, where they hunt insects and other invertebrates. Some species even live in anthills and termite mounds, and for some reason, aggressive ants tolerate their presence, which makes these creatures even more mysterious.
Worm-lizards are masters of hiding. They lead such a secretive lifestyle that some species may not be seen by humans for decades. For example, the Somali sharp-nosed snake (Ancylocranium somalicum) remained invisible to science for over 90 years until it was accidentally discovered in Somaliland in January of this year.
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A new species of snake
Recently, scientists discovered a new species of water squirrel in the mountains of Brazil – Amphisbaena amethysta. The mysterious creatures were found during ecological studies in the northern part of the Espinhaço mountain range. To make sure that they really were a new species, the scientists carefully studied their structure and conducted DNA analysis.
The new species of amphisbaenian about 26 centimeters long has a typical amphisbaenian appearance: a pink body that becomes browner toward the tail. Like other amphisbaenians, this species is adapted to life underground, which explains its small and almost invisible eyes.
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